WAVES & WOODS #27 - INTERVIEW WITH SURF CULTURE ARTIST JOVI CAUWELS
Hi Jovi, please tell us, where are you from?
I’m born and raised in Bruges, a beautiful medieval city within Belgium.
It’s a 30 minute ride from our North Sea and a good place for starting artists.
We have an interesting artist community as our city support us with affordable working spaces and a shared music and printing lab. There is a supportive atmosphere to try different mediums and develop an own style.
Where do you learned your skills from? In School, University, self-taught?
Self-taught, when I was younger I never considered drawing as something I could do as a job. I actually studied social work at the University in Gent. It’s through my social work internship at Sebastian Indian Social Project (Kerala, India) that I first came in contact with surfing. The local kids were getting surf classes when they went 5 days to school during the week. I always kept interested in arts and soon I discovered surf culture artists like Andy Davis, Daniela Garreton, Lizzyartwork, Inna Kelapa,… It made me realise that maybe if I consistently put my energy towards creativity, I could also become an illustrator. I followed a two years graphic design course besides my social work job. It’s been a long road but since this year I’m fully illustrating!
Classic but always interesting question: Where do you get your inspirations from?
Inspiration is everywhere. Music, books, news events, other artists, interior design, photography, nature, surf culture, travelling, religion, clothing, architecture, environment,… In general from daily life and what is happing inside and around me.
On what medium do you draw your work these days?
My designs are a combination of linography and digital techniques.
This year I’m trying to find a place in the world which is aligned with my vision of a meaningful life. Right now I’m living three months at Imsouane, Morocco. It’s hard traveling with all my linography materials so for now I only work digital. The programs I use are procreate and adobe illustrator. Recently I did my first mural here in Imsouane at the terrace of Momo’s café, overlooking the Cathedral surf break.
Do you have a message you want to spread with your art?
Most of my illustrations are feel good surf culture illustrations.
When you have a closer Iook at my drawings you will see that I also illustrate about environmental issues, personal growth, social injustice and messages of peace. I personally feel most meaningful as an illustrator when I can question the world we live in.
Why did you choose to become an illustrator?
I believe that we can only become true to ourself when we follow our passion and purpose. For years I tried to live the standard expectations of society and it’s just not working for me. I feel there is more to discover in ourself and in the world. I only want to settle for a life that is fully aligned with how I feel inside.
Do you surf yourself?
I started surfing during my social work internship in India when I was 21 years old. Over the last years my passion for surfing have grown and took me to different places in the world. I’m definitely not the best surfer out there but to me surfing itself means a lot. I’m living a lot in my own mind. I’m thinking, planning and dreaming a lot. Surfing puts my focus outside of myself, you need to focus on the ocean to catch and ride waves. Being outside of my mind gives me a calm, peaceful and fulfilled feeling.
If yes, where do you go surfing normally?
Ostend, North Sea Belgium.
And what about the outdoors? What has been your best outdoor experience until now?
Wherever I am I find it important for to go for long walks. The most impressive hike of my life was the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand. Nature at it’s finest.
In my hometown Bruges, close to where I grew we have a small forest ‘Tilleghem bos’. This is the place were I go for walks, a run or listening to a podcast. I can easily go there 2 to 3 times a week when I’m in Belgium, this might be my favourite outdoor place.
Back to your art, how long do you work on one piece usually?
I believe in a fast approach for the main concept, less then 15 minutes. If I have to think longer on a piece it’s not going to be good anyways. I feel like it’s better to make a lot of illustrations rather than concentrating on one idea for a longer time. The actual making of the design depends on the amount of detail, for personal work I keep it under two hours for sure.
Where can we follow or even buy your work?
My instagram name is @raisedbysummer. I choose this name because the dream of being a surf culture illustrator started in India and always peaked during summer surf trips with my friends. In that way my dreams were raised by the summer.
Name: Cauwels Jovi
Age: 29 years old
Born where: Bruges, Belgium
Living now: Morocco
Starting with Art when: as a child but ‘officially’ I started raised by summer when I was 26 years old.
Favorite Artist on the planet (already dead): Keith Haring
Favorite Artist on the planet (still alive): Daniela Garreton
Favorite Surfing spot: For now Imsouane. Never visited a long left wave yet.
Favorite Outdoor-Location: Tilleghem bos, a small forest next to my parents house.
INTERVIEW WITH MULTIPLE ILLUSTRATIONS WITHIN THE MAGAZINE
find magazine on https://www.wavesandwoods.de/
Picture taken by Maria Nomset
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